The book was purchased through the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
Contents:
Japan and Japanese Americans in the Pacific Metropolis through World War II -- Orienting the gateway to the Pacific: reconsidering Japan and reshaping civic identity -- Redeveloping citizens: planning a new Japanesetown -- Pacific crossings: Japan, Hawai'i, and the redefinition of Japanesetown -- Intermediaries with Japan: the work of professional Japanese Americans in the gateway -- Local struggles: Japanese American and African American protest and cooperation after 1960 -- Conclusion
Summary:
In the decades following World War II, municipal leaders and ordinary citizens embraced San Francisco's identity as the 'Gateway to the Pacific', using it to reimagine and rebuild the city. The city became a cosmopolitan center on account of its newfound celebration of its Japanese and other Asian American residents, its economy linked with Asia, and its favourable location for transpacific partnerships. The most conspicuous testament to San Francisco's postwar transpacific connections is the Japanese Cultural and Trade Center in the city's redeveloped Japanese-American enclave
